The Irwin family story has almost become legend in the world of Australian Tourism and after visiting Australia Zoo it’s not hard to see why. It’s got a great story and history sure, but it is also polished in it’s execution and perfectly staged to make a brilliant family day out.
Your best bet is to drive to Australia Zoo. There is lots of road work happening at the moment in the area so depending on traffic it will take you about 45 mins an hour to get there from Brisbane or just over an hour from Noosa.
Parking is simple and there is lots of it. Just follow the signs when you get there.
If you don’t have access to a car there is more info on how to get there on the Australia Zoo website here.
You can buy tickets in advance online which will save you a bit of time when you get there but unfortunately won’t save you any cash. And it’s not cheap. But it is worth it. Especially when you spend a full day there and make the most of all the exhibits and shows that are on offer.
One thing to know about Australia Zoo is that it’s huge. In fact there are more than 1,200 animals sprawled over an area that is over 3,500 acres. Which means lots of walking and lots of tired toddlers. Thankfully, there is a shuttle that runs around the zoo stopping at key points around the area and they have also just launched Pram hire which makes life lots easier.
Be Sun Smart: Queensland’s sun can be quite fierce, even during winter, so remember to bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Pack swimmers and a towel: If it’s a hot day and you have little ones they will love running through the water play area to cool down.
Snacks/Food: You can BYO food and snacks to Australia Zoo. There are plenty of nice shady areas to enjoy a picnic lunch, so also bring a blanket and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Alternatively you can grab a seat in the Feeding Frenzy food court next to the Crocoseum and get something pre-made.
Don’t rush: Allow yourself a minimum of 4 hours for your visit. You wont get to see everything in that time, but you will be able to see the top things on your list. Allow more time for the full experience.
There are 4 Parents’ nursing/ baby change rooms located around the zoo
Extra points for toddler seats in bathroom stalls for parents’ convenience.
9.00am to 5.00pm daily
Christmas Day - closed
Baby change table
Dad friendly
Highchair
Play area
Potty training toilet
Pram friendly
Private feeding area
Was so impressed with the whole Australia Zoo experience that my only disappointment was that we didn’t leave more time. We got there as soon as it opened at 9am so didn’t have to wait long to buy our tickets at the gate and go in but had to leave just after lunch and could have easily spent another hour or 2 there. I was most impressed with how polished the whole thing was. The midday show in the Crocoseum was brilliant and it was like I was watching a show straight out of Disneyland, just with animals – my… Read more »